CAT 2021 VARC Analysis: Slot 1 Breakdown and Strategy

📋 Table of Contents

• Introduction
• CAT 2021 VARC Slot 1 Structure
• Reading Comprehension Analysis
• Verbal Ability Breakdown
• Smart Attempt Strategy
• Handling Close Answer Choices
• FAQs
• Conclusion

🔍 Introduction

The CAT 2021 VARC Slot 1 section was a tactical battlefield for aspirants. With difficult reading comprehension passages and moderate-level verbal questions, the section emphasized judgment, accuracy, and speed. This analysis provides a comprehensive breakdown of the section structure, question trends, and practical scoring strategies.

📊 CAT 2021 VARC Slot 1 Structure

• 40-minute time limit
• No grammar or vocabulary questions
• 5 non-MCQ (TITA) questions—all in Verbal Ability

📘 Reading Comprehension Analysis

Passage Overview

Insights

• RC passages were around 470–500 words each
• 2 passages were dense and had tricky inference-based questions
• 2 passages were easier and should have been priority attempts
• Options in even easy RCs were subtly confusing, requiring close reading

🧠 Verbal Ability Breakdown

Para-jumbles (3 TITA Questions)

• Moderate difficulty overall
• Required logical flow understanding and connecting themes
• One question was slightly tricky with ambiguous starters

Odd Sentence Out (2 TITA Questions)

• Easier than para-jumbles
• Required thematic understanding of the paragraph
• At least one question was a sure-scorer

Summary Questions (3 MCQs)

• Medium difficulty with very close answer choices
• Passages were short but required careful elimination
• One question could be confidently answered, while two required reasoning under pressure

⏱️ Smart Attempt Strategy

Recommended Approach

• Prioritize 2 easier RCs (Chinese Tea + Marshmallow or Mayan passages)
• Skip/flag difficult RCs like Utopia and revisit only if time permits
• Attempt all TITA questions—no penalty and potential gain
• In summary questions, eliminate options logically rather than guessing

🎯 Handling Close Answer Choices

When options feel nearly identical, follow this elimination technique:

1. Focus on scope: Is the option too broad or too narrow? Eliminate it.
2. Match tone and structure: Discard options that are inconsistent with the author’s tone.
3. Avoid partial truths: If an option focuses on only one part of the passage, it's likely incorrect.
4. Rule out new info: Any element not supported by the passage should be discarded.

❓ FAQs

1. Was CAT 2021 Slot 1 VARC more difficult than Slot 2 or Slot 3? Slot 1 had one of the more difficult RC sets, especially with Utopia and Dystopia. The overall difficulty was slightly above average.
2. How many TITA questions were there in this slot? There were 5 TITA questions, all in the Verbal Ability section.
3. What topics should I prioritize in VARC mocks? Focus on abstract reasoning, philosophical tone passages, and summary elimination techniques. Build reading speed without losing comprehension.

✅ Conclusion

The CAT 2021 VARC Slot 1 paper demanded strategic restraint and clarity. With challenging RCs and precision-based VA, high performers were those who knew what to attempt and what to skip. Use this breakdown to sharpen your own test instincts and prepare smarter—not just harder.